Gargantua and Pantagruel eBook

Let the occasion, notwithstanding, in that case, as
Plato very wisely sayeth and ordaineth in his laws,
be such that none be permitted to draw any water out
of his neighbour’s well until first they by continual
digging and delving into their own proper ground shall
have hit upon a kind of potter’s earth, which
is called ceramite, and there had found no source or
drop of water; for that sort of earth, by reason of
its substance, which is fat, strong, firm, and close,
so retaineth its humidity, that it doth not easily
evaporate it by any outward excursion or evaporation.

In good sooth, it is a great shame to choose rather
to be still borrowing in all places from everyone,
than to work and win. Then only in my judgment
should one lend, when the diligent, toiling, and industrious
person is no longer able by his labour to make any
purchase unto himself, or otherwise, when by mischance
he hath suddenly fallen into an unexpected loss of
his goods.

Howsoever, let us leave this discourse, and from henceforwards
do not hang upon creditors, nor tie yourself to them.
I make account for the time past to rid you freely
of them, and from their bondage to deliver you.
The least I should in this point, quoth Panurge,
is to thank you, though it be the most I can do.
And if gratitude and thanksgiving be to be estimated
and prized by the affection of the benefactor, that
is to be done infinitely and sempiternally; for the
love which you bear me of your own accord and free
grace, without any merit of mine, goeth far beyond
the reach of any price or value. It transcends
all weight, all number, all measure; it is endless
and everlasting; therefore, should I offer to commensurate
and adjust it, either to the size and proportion of
your own noble and gracious deeds, or yet to the contentment
and delight of the obliged receivers, I would come
off but very faintly and flaggingly. You have
verily done me a great deal of good, and multiplied
your favours on me more frequently than was fitting
to one of my condition. You have been more bountiful
towards me than I have deserved, and your courtesies
have by far surpassed the extent of my merits, I must
needs confess it. But it is not, as you suppose,
in the proposed matter. For there it is not where
I itch, it is not there where it fretteth, hurts,
or vexeth me; for, henceforth being quit and out of
debt, what countenance will I be able to keep?
You may imagine that it will become me very ill for
the first month, because I have never hitherto been
brought up or accustomed to it. I am very much
afraid of it. Furthermore, there shall not one
hereafter, native of the country of Salmigondy, but
he shall level the shot towards my nose. All
the back-cracking fellows of the world, in discharging
of their postern petarades, use commonly to say, Voila
pour les quittes, that is, For the quit. My
life will be of very short continuance, I do foresee
it. I recommend to you the making of my epitaph;